Wrestling

Wrestling Hosts Penn, Princeton in Home-Opening Weekend

Feb 04, 2016

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University wrestling hosts its first home dual meets of the 2015-16 season as part of the team's Alumni Weekend when the Bears take on Penn on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Princeton on Sunday at noon in a pair of Ivy and EIWA duals at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

LAST DUAL MEETSophomore Christian LaBrie and freshman CJ LaFragola each won via major decision to lead Brown University wrestling to a 32-12 win over Bloomsburg University on Sunday, Jan. 24 in a non-league dual meet at Nelson Field House.

The Bears (3-6) took four wins through forfeit en route to their win over the host Huskies (1-12).

LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) captured a 12-1 win at 165 lbs. over Mathew Carr to put Brown up 22-6 in the team score, and LaFragola (Little Egg Harbor, N.Y.) followed with a 14-6 triumph at 174 lbs. against the Huskies' Casey Glunt.

SCOUTING THE QUAKERSPenn brings a 3-3 overall record and a 3-2 EIWA mark into the weekend. In their lone Ivy dual, the Quakers fell at Princeton, 19-15. The team carries three ranked wrestlers in its probable lineup in No. 12 C.J. Cobb at 149 lbs., No. 12 Lorenzo Thomas at 184 lbs., and No. 15 Casey Kent at 174 lbs.

SCOUTING THE TIGERSEntering the weekend, Princeton holds a 4-6 overall mark and a 3-3 EIWA record. Last weekend the Tigers defeated Franklin & Marshall (35-6) and Penn (19-15) before falling to Rutgers (28-6). The team will wrestle Harvard on Saturday prior to taking on Brown. Princeton boasts a pair of ranked wrestlers on its tentative lineup in No. 11 Brett Harner at 197 lbs. and No. 16 Jonathan Schleifer at 174 lbs.

STAUDENMAYER PACING BEARSJunior Justin Staudenmayer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) – the No. 20 ranked wrestler in the nation at 157 lbs. according to Intermat – has paced the Bears in 2015-16 in wins (20), dual wins (seven), and technical falls (five). He ranks second on the team with 26 dual points. Staudenmayer placed first at the F&M Open, second at the Navy Classic, and fifth at the ESU Open.

SALVO SOLID AT 133Sophomore Zeke Salvo (Baltimore, Md.) has provided Brown with a steady presence at 133 lbs. as he leads the team with seven falls and 27 dual points to go along with 16 overall wins. He placed second at the ESU Open and fifth at the Navy Classic.

LABRIE TWINS ON THE RISESophomore twin brothers Christian LaBrie and Andrew LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) have made an impact for the Bears this season at 165 and 174 lbs. respectively. Christian has totaled 17 wins on the season, second on the team, and leads Brown with six major falls. He placed first at the USC Wildcat Open and second at the Navy Classic. Andrew has logged 11 wins and took first at the ESU Open and third at the Navy Classic.

VIRUET LEADING FRESHMAN CLASSFreshman Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) has led the Bears' rookie class, accounting for 13 wins and tying for the team lead with five EIWA dual wins. At 165 lbs., he placed third at the F&M Open.

COMING SOONAfter hosting Penn and Princeton, Brown competes at Binghamton on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. prior to hosting Harvard and Roger Williams as part of the team's Beauty and the Beast meet with Brown gymnastics on Sunday, Feb. 14 beginning at 1 p.m.